A/N: Takes place after Book 13. Another alternate ending. I was going to enter this in the Beat the Clock challenge, but, well, I couldn't beat the clock and get it entered in time. Once I thought up the plot, I just couldn't get it out of my head. It will be between 3-5 chapters. I'm still writing The Law Firm of LDE and will have a chapter up for that this week. Much love to tabularasa88 for being my beta. She rocks and is an awesome author. You simply must read her stories. Enjoy!

Ch. 1

Sookie sat in the hard, wooden chair beside the old, wrought-iron bed. She sat there holding the old man's withered hand. His small, emaciated body lay in bed while he slept, each one of his breaths audible and labored, and his heartbeat slow and irregular. Death was near now and it was just a matter of time before he would pass into the next plane of existence. Sadness enveloped her. Another loved one lost. She had experienced so much death and loss while a human and as an angel that she didn't think she could withstand another. It felt like a fissure in her soul was breaking apart within her.

While the old man slept, Sookie took in her surroundings. The old Hale farmhouse was now 500 years old and despite the TLC administered by its current owner, it still showed its age. The windows let in the drafty night air as if there were no barrier to the coldness outside. The floors and walls creaked and groaned with the wind beating against the house. No matter. The old man was the last in the bloodline, the last heir to occupy this home. No one else would live here, not without the sentimental attachment her family line felt to the place. No, the next owner would not be a Stackhouse, Hale, or Delahoussaye. It would be a stranger and they would buy the property for the land, not the house. The thought both saddened her and relieved her as she recalled her own many memories in this house.

"Wh..what are you thinking about so pensively Sookie?" the old man's raspy voice croaked.

"Peter," Sookie said, shifting her eyes to his and giving him a small smile. "Nothing, just memories. None of that matters now. Shall I get you a drink?"

"A glass of water would be lovely," Peter replied, his voice gravelly with thirst and non-use.

Sookie rose from his side, giving Peter's hand a small squeeze before she went to the small table that held a pitcher of water and a glass. She poured Peter his drink and then returned to his side. When he struggled to sit up, Sookie immediately used her free arm to lift him to sitting and then placed the glass to his lips. Peter's dry, cracked lips drank in small measured sips. "Not too much please. I just needed something to moisten my mouth so that I can speak to you."

"Peter, you don't need to say anything. Save your strength."

"And what is the point of that Sookie? I'm dying. You know it. It's why you're here, right?"

Sookie set the glass on the bedside table. Her eyes filled with tears and she nodded her head. "You remember Peter. When you were a boy and I came to you, I told you that I would always tell you the truth. Yes, you are going home. Home to heaven. To your momma, and daddy and your baby sister, to all of our family and all of your friends. I'm here to see you on your journey. No one should die alone," and a tear slipped from her eye. Sookie quickly wiped it away. She promised herself she wouldn't cry and now she was mad at herself for failing to keep her word. She didn't want her sorrow to taint Peter's passing.

"Now, now. Why so sad?," the dying man said, consoling the angel. "Look at me. I welcome death. Sookie, I am 128 years old. I've lived a long, full, happy life. My body is withered and frail. I've outlived my family and friends. And I chose not to marry and have kids. I take this curse, our curse, with me to my grave. No other member of our bloodline will walk this earth with this curse lingering in their DNA. It's better this way. And besides, I'm not alone. I have you," he said, squeezing her hand feebly with the little strength he still possessed. "And because of you, I don't fear what waits for me on the other side. I welcome it. Sookie, you have been an angel to me in more ways than one. You helped me when I was young and struggled with my telepathy … teaching me how to use my shields. You taught me about the supernatural world … how it really works. Not the propaganda the vampires, weres, shifters, and demons push on us humans. It is because of you that I have lived the life I have, free from intrigue and power struggles, not as some slave in a gilded cage, or worse. You have made that possible. And not just for me, but for all of our line that you have served as guardian."

"I know, but it still makes me sad seeing you pass. Losing you on this plane."

"And one day, I will see you again. When you choose to no longer serve humans as guardian angel, you can go to heaven, and be with great, great, great … oh hell, I forgot how many greats, but with my Grandfather Jason, and Hunter and his heirs," and Peter smiled. "Since I'm the last of our line, I wonder who you will guard next? No matter, when I do see you again, I hope you will remember me."

"Always," Sookie quickly whispered.

"I'm tired and cold. My chill is bone deep," Peter said, his voice thin and weak.

"Here, let me get you another blanket," Sookie said and she grabbed the afghan at the foot of the bed and spread it over Peter's small form. With all of the blankets, he was engulfed in his bedding, but Sookie knew that all of the blankets would do nothing to allay the cold he felt. That cold was death and it was creeping into him more rapidly now.

"Sookie, before I go, I … I w..want you to k..know," Peter wheezed and then coughed a rough, chest deep cough. Sookie grabbed a handkerchief and wiped the spittle from Peter's chin.

"Shhh. Hush now," Sookie soothed.

"No…I … I have.. to," and then his small frame was wracked with more coughs. Once Peter regained his composure, Sookie gave him a small sip of water and he was able to continue, "I love you Sookie. Thank you…Th..thank …." And with a last wheeze of breath, Peter passed into the next life.

Sookie's body collapsed onto Peter's corpse, holding him tight and her body shook with silent sobs. She allowed her tears to flow freely now, and they fell onto Peter's face.

"Sookie, he is gone," she heard a sweet, melodious voice sing.

"I know that Claudine," Sookie said, more tersely than she intended, without ever looking up to acknowledge Claudine's appearance. She sat up and wiped away her tears and then looked down at Peter's lifeless face. She gave him one last kiss on his forehead and then slowly closed his eyes and mouth, which was slightly agape.

"He lived a good life Sookie. Because of you. You should be so proud, you did that. You did that for him."

"Why are you here Claudine?" Sookie finally looked away from Peter to Claudine, who stood at the foot of the bed; however, Sookie never released Peter's hand, craving that last connection to her now deceased family member.

Claudine's face took on a look of sadness and concern at the sorrow her cousin felt. She hated to see Sookie take the loss of each charge harder than the last. Finally, she spoke up, "The Great Creator has felt your distress. He has an offer for you and I am here to give it to you."

This piqued Sookie's curiosity. She had met the Great Creator once, when she died in her human life and was made an angel, but she hadn't seen or spoken to the Great Creator since that time.

"She felt my distress?" The Great Creator was genderless, being a divine light, and Sookie preferred to think that the Great Creator, one who gives life and transforms life, had to be female if one were to assign a gender to her.

Claudine smiled, remembering Sookie's preference. "Yes, you know … she … feels these things. She knows your unhappiness. So, she has an offer for you." Sookie sat expectantly and Claudine took that as her signal to continue. "For the past 150 years or so, you have served as guardian angel to your bloodline. With Peter's passing, that line is now extinguished. You can, if you choose, have another being to guard. Or…" Claudine paused, not knowing exactly how Sookie would receive the next offer.

"Or what Claudine," Sookie asked impatiently.

"Or, you can leave this existence and join your family in the hereafter."

Sookie sat stock still, taking in the offer. No more death. Only afterlife. Anyone she met in the future, it would be when they died, but she wouldn't have to be there to experience it. Instead of saying good-bye, it would be a homecoming as she greeted them on the other side. But then again, Sookie thought, who would there be for her to greet anew after Peter's passing. All of her family and friends were already in the hereafter… except for her vampires. Sookie immediately mentally chastised herself … they aren't your vampires Sookie. They never were. No, there was only one who was her vampire, and he cast her aside many, many years ago….

"Well, what do you think?"

"I … I don't know what to think. You are right Claudine. There is nothing left tying me here to this plane."

"You don't have to decide right now. But when you do make your decision, the Great Creator will know and it will be done."

After a brief moment of thought, Sookie said "No Claudine. I don't need time to consider the Great Creator's offer. There is nothing for me here. I am ready to go to the hereafter," and Sookie spread her arms to be received into heaven.

Claudine feared that Sookie was rushing her decision based on the rawness of her emotions and wanted her cousin to give her decision more thought than she had. "Wait!" she screamed, pulling Sookie out of her posture. "I know we don't have any family left on this plane, but what about your vampires? I know you haven't spoken to them in hundreds of years, many years before you died, but they are still here in this plane. Don't you think you ought to see them first before you finally decide? Maybe …."

"Maybe what Claudine," Sookie spat. "I can't go back to that … being reminded of how I was used and abused by vampires. How I fell in… into vampire politics. No, I haven't seen those vampires in a long time and for good reason."

"Once they fought by your side. You once called them friends, and even more…." Sookie shot a heated gaze at Claudine.

"They only fought by my side because he asked them to. And then he walked out of my life forever, casting me off like … like…" Sookie's voice trailed off as she was overtaken by the sadness that always came when she thought about her human life … and him.

"Look, I was there too you know. Not all of them fought for you because he asked them to," and Claudine's eyes glazed over, remembering the fairy war in which Eric, Bill and Pam fought alongside Niall and his fairies to protect Sookie, and in which Claudine and her unborn child had died. Claudine involuntarily placed her hand on her stomach and Sookie, seeing her movement, softened towards her cousin.

"I know you were there. What it cost you," Sookie said, her eyes filled with tears at being reminded again of another family member's life lost, and that time, because of her.

"I've made my peace with it," Claudine said, returning to herself. "Look, I'm just saying, before you make your decision, you should think it over. Talk to the vampires that are still here about it. Then decide."

"I don't even know who is here anymore," Sookie responded with downcast eyes, fumbling for any excuse to not go down this path.

Claudine smiled mischievously seeing Sookie's resistance wearing thin. "That is why I found out for you." Sookie's head shot up, but Claudine only continued, "Pam is still Sheriff of Area 5, living in Shreveport and many of the vampires you knew then still live in the area and serve her. Going through several battles and wars together tends to make people loyal, even vamps, and she has been a fair leader."

Sookie considered the matter. She and Pam were close … once. There was a time when Pam called Sookie her favorite breather and Sookie called Pam friend. "Well, I suppose it is only to Shreveport, and Pam was a friend to me in my life."

"Yes, yes she was. She still owns and operates Fangtasia and conducts all of her area business from there, but instead of a hokey dive bar, it is now a trendy nightclub." Sookie looked curiously at Claudine, "Well, what did you expect? Vampires are no longer the oddity they were after the Great Revelation, and Pam always wanted … well … let's just say its under new management."

Sookie took a moment to consider this and smiled. It was so … Pam.

"Oh, and Eric is back and living in Pam's area."

"What!" Sookie shouted, rising from the bed and releasing Peter's hand.

"His marriage to Oklahoma ended oh, 50 odd years ago. He left there as soon as the contract was up and he's been, I don't know, bouncing around from place to place, but most recently, he's returned to his child in Area 5."

"So, if I go and see Pam, I'm likely to see Eric as well." Sookie posited out loud.

"Sookie, go. Maybe it is nothing, but maybe it is something. Maybe they give you reason to stay, or maybe you take this as your opportunity to say good-bye," Claudine reasoned.

After the initial emotional shock of possibly seeing Eric wore off, Sookie saw the wisdom in Claudine's words. Closure. It was something she didn't get. Something that she strived to make sure each of her charges had in their human life. A chance to make peace and say good-bye. Sookie doubted there was anything to hold her to this realm, but she did like the idea of getting closure before she moved onto the next. Besides, she thought, I always knew this day would come. The day when I would see Eric one last time and give him my gift. It is why I made it for him after all. Resigned to her decision, Sookie relaxed her stance and answered Claudine, "Fine. Fine, I'll go." She stood to leave and Claudine stopped her.

A huge smile broke out across Claudine's face showing her approval at Sookie's decision. Then Claudine slowly took in Sookie's appearance. Both women were wearing the flowy white gossamer gowns that all guardian angels wear while attending to official business in this world, that is, when they were not otherwise in disguise. "Wonderful. But first, I think you're going to want to change."

A/N: Thoughts?